Jakarta, Nov 23 (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla has expressed optimism that the government`s policy to relax the negative investment list will attract more foreign investors, particularly to engage in micro, small, and medium businesses.

"Surely, (it will attract more investors) because not only large-sized companies, such as Mitsubishi and Chinese large companies, but medium-sized companies could also enter Indonesia under such conditions," he stated at the Vice Presidential Palace here on Friday.

By narrowing the areas of businesses in the negative list of investment, the policy will also be able to create more jobs and increase state revenues from tax receipts, he remarked.

The inflow of foreign investment into Indonesia will also encourage the transfer of technology to strengthen small and medium businesses and increase their number, he noted.

"What is important for us is that there will be an inflow of foreign exchange earnings, an increase in the number of jobs, an increase in the amount of tax receipts, and transfer of technology to national companies," he noted.

With an increase in foreign investment in the country, he believes there has been progress in the implementation of development projects in the country, including those in infrastructure development.

"To build a 20-storey building in the past, we always needed foreign contractors, while national companies merely became sub-contractors. However, now, almost all storey buildings in Jakarta are built by national contractors owing to the transfer of technology," he added.

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Eliswan Azly
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